I’m Lara. I am a fine art travel photographer living in Slovakia. I am spending a lot of time traveling.
I’ve visited more than 53 countries and 300+ cities. My life is a constant movement. I am inspired by new places in their beauty, features, and uniqueness.
My great passion is to share my vision with the others, to showcase the variety of the world, full of color, depth and emotions. It’s not only the nature, but also unique human creations from antiquity to modern times. You can learn more at larairis.com
ITINERARY, 8 DAYS
- Bergen
- Hardangerfjord
- Odda (Latefossen и Langfossen)
- Eidfjord (Veringfossen)
- Stalheim
- Aurlandsfjord, Nærøyfjord
- Flåm
- Nigardsbreen Glacier
- Lustrafjord
- Bergen
I traveled alone for 8 days/7 nights at the end of July when it’s warmer. I flew to Bergen and rented a car there. I must note that I have never spent so much money on a rental car in any other country I’ve visited. I chose the cheapest option. They only offer automatics; there are no manuals to choose from. For the week, it cost 787 € plus insurance and toll roads. I paid for the toll roads only after I returned when the rental car company sent me an invoice.
DAY 1:
I spent the first night in Bergen. I stayed in a wonderful hostel (single room with a private bathroom and toilet). The breakfasts were amazing (in fact, in all the Norwegian hotels I stayed at, the breakfasts were excellent).
I left the walk around Bergen for the last day, so in the evening, I just enjoyed the view of the city from above.
DAY 2:
On the second day, I left in the morning towards the town of Odda, as there are two famous waterfalls nearby: Latefossen and Langfossen. The 150 km drive took 3 hours, including a ferry ride. The route passed by another waterfall, Furebergsfossen, and Hardangerfjord. I spent the night in Odda.
DAY 3:
On the third day, I headed towards the Eidfjord fjord and another famous waterfall, Vøringsfossen. The road to it from Odda passes through the small Sorfjorden fjord. The views are stunning; it’s a pleasure to drive.
DAY 4:
I spent the night in the town of Eidfjord, and in the morning, I had an excursion to a not-so-well-known place among tourists, Kjeåsen. Purely for the sake of photos and the breathtaking view from the top of the fjord.
Next, I made my way to my next destination – the Stalheim Gorge. Here is a hotel with the same name where I stayed. This hotel is famous for its panoramic terrace, offering a breathtaking view of the valley (by the way, I had a room with the same view, so I highly recommend it).
DAY 5:
The fifth day was dedicated to the Aurlandsfjord with its viewpoints and the Nærøyfjord. I walked around the town of Gudvangen, from where excursion boats depart. After that, I headed to Flåm, where I had planned a panoramic train ride with a stop at the famous waterfall, Kjosfossen.
After a packed day, I still had ahead of me the road to the next hotel in Hafslo, from where I would depart in the morning to visit the glacier. The route passed through the world’s largest tunnel, which is considered an attraction in itself. While driving, I almost fell asleep.
DAY 6:
My main goal – the Nigardsbreen Glacier. The path from the parking lot is not close, but a short stretch is offered to be covered by boat. To say that the place is impressive is an understatement. The beauty takes your breath away.
Nigardsbreen – Norway. The photo shows the road to the glacier. It’s a couple of kilometers from the parking lot. The path isn’t easy, especially for those not well-trained like me, and when you’re carrying 10 kg of equipment on your back. A short part of the way can be covered by boat on the water, but the rest of the journey must be made on foot.
The views are breathtaking. The closer you get to the glacier, the more you feel the spirit of the Arctic, stronger and more powerful. Plus, a strong wind starts blowing with fine, unpleasant drizzle. It was impressive. Felt like I had visited the North Pole)).
On the same day, I toured another famous fjord, Lustrafjorden, reached Lake Eidsvatnet, and went a bit further up the Sognefjellsvegen road. The views from there are impressive.
DAY 7:
On the 7th day, I returned to Bergen. I decided to travel not through the tunnel but through the mountains, where there were still places with snow. I didn’t regret it, although it took longer.
In the evening, I walked around Bergen, took the funicular, watched the sunset over the city, and returned to the same hotel where I spent the first night.
As you can see, in just one week, I covered only a small part of Norway. The country is truly magical. I will come back here again and again; there is still so much I want to see. Norway is my forever love.
The trip cost breakdown is as follows:
Hotels – 726 €
Train to Flåm – 67 €
Gasoline – 120 €
Car rental with roads and insurance – 898 €
TOTAL excluding flight – 1811 €
P.S. I didn’t include meals in the calculation. I hardly ate at cafes as they were expensive. I had hearty breakfasts and food from supermarkets.
I tried to attach photos from almost all the places.
Photo Credit: Lara Iris.
